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Ancient Arabic Order 



Nobles of the Mystic Shrine 



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FOR NORTH AMERICA 



THE LieAARY OF 

CONGRESS, 
One Copy Received 

AUG. 6 1903 

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FKOM THE PRESS OF 
FKAFK BROWN CO., PRINTERS AND BINDERS, 
PEORIA, ILLINOIS 



TO THE NOBLES OF 
THE MYSTIC SHRINE 

T> ELIEVING that every 
•"-* Noble of our Order 
would be interested 
in knowing its origin and 
history, I have collected 
from the best and most re- 
liable source as much data 
on the subject as can be 
obtained, being indebted to 
111.-. Nobles Dr. Walter M. 
Fleming, 33°, and William 
S. Patterson, 33°, for a major 
portion, commencing from 
the year of the Hegira 25 
(A. D. 644), at Mecca, in Ara- 
bia, to its introduction into 
America by 111/. Noble Wil- 
liam J. Florence, 32°, June 
16, 1871. 

Fraternally yours, 
Noble Geo. L. Root, 

Of Mohammed Temple. 
Peoria, 111., June 24, 1903. 



To the Nobles of Mohammed Temple 

THIS VOLUME IS FRATERNALLY 

DEDICATED BY THE 

AUTHOR 



Mabch 17, 1902. 
Geo. L. Root, 

My Dear Illustrious Noble: — I am in re- 
ceipt of yours of the 13th inst. relative to 
using my "History of the Shrine.'' Person- 
ally I have no objection, especially if for dis- 
tribution to Nobles of the Order. I do not 
think Noble Paterson would object either if 
credited to its authors, and not used as an ad- 
vertisement. If the intent is simply to use it 
as a vehicle to exploit advertisements, it cer- 
tainly would not be right, and it would doubt- 
less create trouble through Mecca Temple, 
New York, and many others, who have forbid- 
den such a course many times. But if it be 
an issue of history and information, with 
Temple list, etc., solely confined to the Order 
proper itself, it is all right. Trusting this 
reply will be accepted in good faith, and not 
misinterpreted, I am, my dear Illustrious 
Noble, Courteously yours, 

Walter M. Fleming, M. D., 33° 
Hotel Victoria, New York. 



Origin of the Order. 



The Order of the Nobles of the Mystic 
Shrine was instituted by the Mohammedan 
Kalif Alee (whose name be praised!), the 
cousin-german and son-in-law of the Prophet 
Mohammed (God favor and preserve him!), in 
the year of the Hegira 25 (A. D. 644) at Mecca, 
in Arabia, as an Inquisition, or Vigilance Com- 
mittee, to dispense justice and execute punish- 
ment upon criminals who escaped their just 
deserts through the tardiness of the courts, 
and also to promote religious toleration among 
cultured men of all nations. The original in- 
tention was to form a band of men of sterling 
worth, who would, without fear or favor, upon 
a valid accusation, try, judge, and execute, if 
need be, within the hour, having taken pre- 
cautions as to secrecy and security. 

The "Nobles" perfected their organization, 
and did such prompt and efficient work that 
they excited alarm and even consternation in 
the hearts of the evil doers in all countries 
under the Star and Crescent. 

The Order is yet one of the most highly 
favored among the many secret societies which 
abound in Oriental countries, and gathers 
around its shrines a select few of the best edu- 
cated and cultured classes. Their ostensible 
object is to increase the faith and fidelity of 



12 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

all true believers in Allah (whose name be ex- 
alted!) The secret and real purpose can only 
be made known to those who have encircled 
the Mystic Shrine according to the instruc- 
tions in "The Book of the Constitution and the 
Regulations of the Imperial Council." 

Its membership in all countries includes 
Christians, Israelites, Moslim, and men in high 
positions of learning and of power. One of 
the most noted patrons of the Order was the 
late Khedive of Egypt (whose name be re- 
vered!) whose inclination toward Christians is 
well known. 

The Nobles of the Mystic Shrine are some- 
times mistaken for certain orders of the der- 
vishes, such as those known as the Hanafee- 
yeh, Rufaeeyeh, Sadireeyeh, and others, either 
howling, whirling, dancing or barking; but this 
is an error. The only connection that the Or- 
der ever had with any sect of dervishes was 
with that called the Bektash. This warlike 
sect undertook to favor and protect the Nobles 
in a time of great peril, and have ever since 
been counted among its most honored patrons. 

The famous Arab known as Bektash, from a 
peculiar high white hat or cap which he made 
from a sleeve of his gown, the founder of the 
sect named in his honor, was an imam in the 
army of the Sultan Amurath I., the first Mo- 
hammedan who led an army into Europe, A. 
D. 1360 (in the year of the Hegira, 761). This 
Sultan was the founder of the military order 



HISTORY OF THE SHEINE 13 

of the Janizaries (so called because they were 
freed captives who were adopted into the faith 
and the army), although his father Orkhan 
began the work. Bektash adopted a white 
robe and cap, and instituted the ceremony of 
kissing the sleeve. 

The Bektash Dervishes are numbered by 
many hundred thousands, and they have sev- 
eral branches, or offshoots, which are named 
after the founder of each. Among the most 
noted are those which have their headquar- 
ters in Cairo, in Egypt; Damascus and Jerusa- 
lem, in Palestine; Smyrna and Broosa, in Asia 
Minor; Constantinople and Adrianople, in Tur- 
key in Europe; Teheran and Shiraz, in Persia; 
Benares and many other cities in India; Tan- 
gier, in Morocco; Oran, in Algeria, and at 
Mecca, in Arabia, at which latter city all 
branches and sects of dervishes are repre- 
sented at the annual meeting, which is held 
during the month of pilgrimage. 

The Bektasheeyeh's representative at Mecca 
is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, is the chief 
officer of the Alee Temple of Nobles, and in 
1877 was the Chief of the Order in Arabia. 
The Chief must reside either at Mecca or 
Medinah, and, in either case, must be present 
in person or by deputy at Mecca during the 
month of pilgrimage. 

The Egyptian Order of Nobles of the Mystic 
Shrine has been independent of the Arabian, 
excepting the yearly presence of the Deputy 



14 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

in Mecca, since the expedition of Ibraheem 
Pasha, the son of Mohammed Alee, the great 
Pasha of Egypt in 1818, when the Wahabees 
were conquered. 

The Wahabees were a fanatical sect, who 
threatened to over-ride all other power in Ara- 
bia. Since Ibraheem's conquest they have 
continued only as a religious sect, without 
direct interference with the government. They 
are haters and persecuters of all other sects, 
and are especially bitter against all dervishes, 
whom they denounce as heretics and the very 
essence of heresy and abomination. In this 
conduct they violate a strict and oft-repeated 
saying of the Prophet Mohammed (God favor 
and protect him!) which is, "He who casts on 
a believer the slur of infidelity is himself an 
infidel." 

All Mohammedans respect every one who 
has made a pilgrimage to Mecca, and who will 
repeat the formula of the creed, "There is no 
Deity but Allah," without reference to what 
his private belief may be, for they have a 
maxim, "The interior belongs to God alone." 

The Nobles of the Mystic Shrine are emi- 
nent for their broad and catholic toleration. 
The Noble who holds to a belief in a Supreme 
or Most High is never questioned as to any 
definition of that belief. The finite cannot 
define the infinite, although it may be con- 
scious of its existence. 



HISTOBY OF THE SHEIXE 



The character of the Order as it appears to 
the unitiated is that of a politico-religious 
society. It is really more than such a society 
could be; and there are hidden meanings in its 
simplest symbols that take hold on the pro- 
foundest depths of the heart. We may illus- 
trate by an example. There are rays of light 
about the Sphinx and Pyramid. Each ray is 
numbered and has its appropriate significa- 
tion. In general, Light is the symbol of 
intelligence. Through intelligence the world 
is governed, and the spread of knowledge ren- 
ders crime and meanness unprofitable, and, 
through the scheme of the Order, impossible 
for the criminal to escape just punishment. 

Among the modern promoters of the princi- 
ples of the Order in Europe, one of the most 
noted was Herr Adam Weishaupt, a Rosicru- 
cian (Rose Cross Mystic), and professor of law 
in the University of Ingolstadt, in Bavaria, 
who revived the Order in that city on May 1, 
1776. Its members exercised a profound in- 
fluence before and during the French Revolu- 
tion, when they were known as the Illuminati, 
and they professed to be teachers of phil- 
osophy; to ray forth from their secret society 
the light of science over all mankind without 
fear or favor; to diffuse the purest principles 
of virtue; in short, restating the teachings of 
Aristotle, Pythagoras, Pluto, Confucius, and 
other philosophers. From the central society 
at Ingolstadt branches spread out through all 



16 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

Europe. Among the members there are re- 
corded the names of Frederick the Great, 
Mirabeau, a Duke of Orleans, many members 
of royal families, literary, scientific and pro- 
fessional men, including the illustrious Goethe 
Spinoza, Kant, Lord Bacon, and a long list 
besides, whose works enlarge and free the 
mind from the influence of dogma and 
prejudice. 

Frequent revolutions in Arabia, Persia and 
Turkey have obscured the Order from time to 
time, as appears from the many breaks in the 
continuity of the records at Mecca, but it has 
as often been revived. Some of the most 
notable revivals are those at Mecca and 
Aleppo in A. D. 1698 (A. H. 1110), and at Cairo 
in A. D. 1837 (A. H. 1253), the latter under the 
protection of the Khedive of Egypt, who 
recognized the Order as a powerful means of 
civilization. 

Among the renowned patrons of the Order 
in Arabia was the Imam, or Shayk Abu il- 
Barakat Abd-Ullh Ibn Ahmad Alnasafi, well 
known among scholars by his title of Hafiz- 
uddeen, and who died A. D. 1330 (A. H. 731). 

Arabic writers say of him that he was "the 
scientific and learned Imam, the lord of the 
ingenuous and the gifted prince, the support 
of the excellent, a rare example of manly vir- 
tue in the ages, our eyes never beheld his 
equal, our lord the teacher and guardian of 
our Order". 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 17 

The poet, Hafiz, is honored in Persia as 
Byron is in England, and their works are simi- 
lar in many respects, treating of wine and 
women with an unequalled richness of vocab- 
ulary and ideality. Strict Mohammedans 
reject the writings of Hafiz as too suggestive, 
but yet he is more widely read than any other 
writer in the East, by members of the Order, 
who alone can fully appreciate the many 
secret allusions in his verse. 

In the year A. D. 804, during a warlike ex- 
pedition against the Byzantine emperor 
Nikephorus, the most famous Arabian Kalif, 
Haroon al-Rasheed, deputed a renowned 
scholar, Abd el-Kader el-Bagdadee, to proceed 
to Aleppo, Syria, and found a college there for 
the propagation of the religion of the Prophet 
Mohammed ( God favor and preserve him ! ). 
The work and college arose, and the Order of 
Nobles was revived there as a part of the 
means of civilization. 

Nearly three centuries after the death of the 
great Kalif and patron of learning, the Order 
of Nobles was revived at Bagdad by Abd el- 
Kader Ghilanee, a noted Persian, an eminent 
doctor of the Soon sect, A. H. 555 (A. D. 1160). 

Among the traditions of the Order occurs 
this very significant record: "In no single in- 
stance has the government in any country 
ventured openly to oppose 'the silent, secret 
workings of the 'Nobles', although the secret 
agents of the government are always present 



18 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

and exercise a careful surveillance in every 
'Mystic Temple' ". 

The leading spirits of the Order are found 
in every circle of the higher classes, even in- 
cluding the functionaries of government, and 
exert an influence in proportion to their posi- 
tion, dangerous to the vicious, beneficial to 
the virtuous. 

The Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine 
in America does not advocate Mohammedan- 
ism as a sect, but inculates the same respect 
to Diety here as in Arabia and elsewhere, and 
hence the secret of its profound grasp on the 
intellect and heart of all cultured people. 

The Ritual now in use is a translation from 
the original Arabic, found preserved in the 
archives of the Order at Aleppo, Syria, whence 
it was brought, in 1860, to London, England, 
by Rizk Allah Hassoon Effendee, who was the 
author of several important works in Arabic, 
one of which was a metrical version of the 
Book of Job. His "History of Islam" offended 
the Turkish government because of its human- 
itarian principles, and he was forced to leave 
his native country. He was a ripe scholar in 
Arabic poetry and the general literature of the 
age, and his improvements in the diction of 
certain parts of the ritual of the Shrine are of 
great beauty and value. 

In the year 1698 the learned Orientalist, 
Luigi Marracci, who was then just completing 
his great works, "The Koran in Latin and 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 19 

Arabic, with Notes", and "The Bible in 
Arabic", at Padua, in Italy, was initiated into 
our Order of Nobles, and found time to trans- 
late the ritual into Italian. The initiated will 
be able to see how deeply significant this fact 
is when the history of the Italian society of 
the "Carbonari" is recalled. The very exist- 
ance of Italian unity and liberty depended 
largely on the "Nobles", who were represented 
by Count Cavour, Mazzini, Garibaldi, and the 
king, Victor Emanuel. 

Although Marracci was confessor to his 
Holiness, Pope Innocent XI, for several years, 
yet he was censured by the College of the 
Propaganda at Rome for having aided and 
abetted the work of a secret society, and the 
book was condemned to be burnt. A few 
copies were saved and one is still preserved in 
the library of the Synagogue, which stands 
just inside the ancient Roman gate of the city 
of Babloon, called by the Arabs Fostat, in the 
Middle Ages, and now known as Old Cairo. 

In making the present version, the transla- 
tor has had the benefit of the work of Alnas- 
afi, of Marracci, and of Hassoon. The render- 
ing is literal where the idiom permitted, except 
where a local reference required the substitu- 
tion of American for Oriental names of cities. 

The work was perfected in August, 1870, 
under the supervision of Dr. Walter M. Flem- 
ing, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 
A.-.A.-.S.'.Rite, and Past Eminent Commander 



20 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

of Columbian Commandery No. 1, Knights 
Templar, New York, who received his instruc- 
tions and authority from Rizk Allah Hassoon 
Effendee, who had competent jurisdiction for 
America. 

The Ritual is known in Arabia as " The Pil- 
lar of Society," which is an honorary title 
given only to persons of very great distinction 
in the service of truth, justice and mercy, and 
the support of learning and culture, and was 
by courtesy attached to this work as originally 
written by the renowned Alnasafi the Hafiz, 
the Persian poet. 

The salutation of distinction among the 
faithful is: "Es Salamu Aleikum!" ("Peace 
be with you!"), to which is returned the gra- 
cious wish, "Aleikum es Salaam!" ("With you 
be peace!") 

The jewel of the Order is a crescent, formed 
of any substance. The most valued materials 
are the claws of the royal Bengal tiger, united 
at their bases in a gold setting which includes 
their tips, and bears on one side of the center 
the head of a sphinx, and on the other a pyra- 
mid, urn and star, with the date of the wear- 
er's reception of the Order, and the motto: 

Arabic — "Kuwat wa Ghadab." 

Latin — "Robur et Furor." 

English — "Strength and Fury." 

The crescent has been a favorite religious 
emblem in all ages in the Orient, and also a 
political ensign in some countries, such as in 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 21 

modern Turkey and Persia. The ancient 
Greeks used the crescent as an emblem of the 
universal Mother of all living things, the Vir- 
gin Mother of all souls, who was known as 
Diana, Artemis, Phoebe, Cynthia, and other 
names, varying with the character of her 
attributes in different localities. The chief 
seat of the Diana cult and worship was at 
Ephesus, and the great temple built in her 
honor at that city was the pride and glory of 
the Greeks. 

The secret knowledge symbolized by the 
crescent has always had its devotees, in every 
age, in all civilized countries, and it is yet the 
master key to all wisdom. The Greek philos- 
opher Plato, when asked the source of his 
knowledge, referred to Pythagoras. If we con- 
sult the writings of Pythagoras, we shall find 
that he points to the far East, whence he de- 
rived his instruction. In imitation of the 
humility of the wisest of mankind, we look to 
the East for light, and find placed there the 
beautiful emblem of new-born light — the 
crescent. 

This is yet only a symbol, and refers to a 
higher and purer source, the great fountain of 
light, the sun, which is also an emblem of the 
Great First Cause, of light and intelligence. 
Thus do we lead the mind of the initiate, step 
by step, from the sterile and shifting sand of 
the desert, which typifies ignorance and dark- 
ness, into the halls of science, the chambers of 



22 HISTOEY OF THE SHKINE 

culture, until he stands in the presence of the 
emblem of light and intelligence, in possession 
of the key that will open to the diligent in- 
quirer every truth in nature's wide domain. 

For esoteric reasons we hang the horns point- 
ing downward, representing the setting moon of 
the old faith at the moment of the rising sun of 
the new faith in the brotherhood of all man- 
kind — the essential unity of humanity as of 
one blood, the children of one fatherhood. 

This use of the crescent is not to be con- 
founded with that made in the "Order of the 
Crescent," which was established by Sultan 
Selim III, soon after his accession in 1789, and 
which is conferred on Christians chiefly for 
eminent merit or services to the Turkish gov- 
ernment. 

The Turkish military order called the "Or- 
der of the Mejidie" also uses the crescent, not 
simply, but combined with a sun and seven 
triple rays, and was instituted in August, 1852. 

The constitutional authority for promulgat- 
ing the principles and practice of the Order 
was confided to Dr. Walter M. Fleming, 33°, 
and his associates, William J. Florence, 32°; 
Edward Eddy, 33° ; John W. Simons, 33° ; Sher- 
wood C. Cambell, 32° ; Oswald Merle d'Aubigne, 
32°; James S. Chappell, 32°; John A. Moore, 
32° ; (the last sevenhave since enteredthe unseen 
temple), Charles T. McClenachan, 33° : Albert P. 
Moriarty, 33°: Daniel Sickels, 33°; George W. 
Millar, 33°, and William S. Paterson, 33% to- 



HISTORY OF THE SHEINE 23 

gether with Albert L. Rawson, 32°, the Arabic 
translator, all prominent Ancient Accepted 
Scottish Rite Masons and Knights Templar of 
New York, N. Y., who instituted the first Tem- 
ple of the Order in that city under the title of 
"Mecca Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine," 
on September 26, 1872. 

Ill.-.Walter M. Fleming, 33°, was chosen its 
presiding officer, who is called "The Shayk, or 
the Ancient," and also the Illustrious Poten- 
tate. He is known in the Persian temples as 
"The Shayk Alee," that is to say, the Supreme 
Shayk. Ill.-.William S. Paterson, 33°, was 
elected the Recorder. 

On June 6, 1876, "The Imperial Council for 
North America" was formed, and the first 
officers were elected (as in Arabia) for the term 
of three years. Ill/.Walter M. Fleming became 
Imperial Potentate, and Ill/.W. S. Paterson, 
Imperial Recorder. (For particulars see "The 
Constitution of the Imperial Council," and the 
Annual Proceedings.) 

The prerequisite for membership in Europe, ' 
Asia, Africa, and America is the 32° A.\A.\S.\ 
Rite (18° in England), or a Knight Templar, in 
good standing. 

The generous proposition to make the Order 
of Nobles an organization for the exercise of 
charity, the improvement of the mind, and an 
ally of the Fraternity of Free Masonry in the 
United States, was primarily adopted by the 
Imperial Council. 



24 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

Subordinate Temples have been chartered 
in nearly every state of the Union, by dis- 
pensation or in other constitutional manner, 
under authority of the Imperial Council. 




THE CANDIDATE'S DREAM 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 25 



LEGENDS OF THE MYSTIC SHRINE 

According to the ancient ritualistic provis- 
ions in the Shrine's history, it was evidently 
established as a politico-religious Order, and 
destined to become a formidable Oriental 
power, its mission being to aid the distressed, 
comfort the afflicted, protect the innocent, 
harmonize rank and station, overthrow fanati- 
cism, obliterate intolerance, bring the guilty 
to justice, and perpetuate the welfare of man- 
kind. Thus they become the exponents of a 
secret tribunal to judge and punish the traitor, 
the murderer, the despoiler of innocence, the 
violator and desecrator of sacred vows ; to 
apprehend, judge and execute at one conclave, 
striking terror to the destroying element of 
crime by consigning the condemned to the 
rack, bowstring, or pyre of the Shrine, their 
fleet justice leaving a purifying admonition to 
those who knew not the fate of the departed. 
"The Legendary History of the Oriental 
Shrine" thus depicts one phase of the secret 
tribunal: "The grave, stern and masked trib- 
unal sits in solemn council ; their terrible 
meditations and intent none could penetrate ; 
their purpose was as undecipherable as their 
identity. The culprit, defiant of their secret 
power, when loosed from his hempen thongs, 



26 HISTORY OF THE SHEINE 

appears, arrainged for judgment, and stands 
before the piercing gaze of the Tribunal, with 
its all-powerful 'Council of Thirteen', dog- 
gedly sullen and undismayed by the array of 
block, bowstring, rack, and blazing crucibles. 
If guilty, he neither seeks nor expects mercy, 
knowing that mercy for the impious prevails 
not here. Their cause is justice. The palpa- 
ble proofs of guilt being sure, the result is as 
immutable as God's decree. But still does he 
his innocence protest. The frowning Council 
grant one last privilege, a final proof to justify 
his plea by his Moslem faith. If so he dare, 
he advances alone to the sacred dias, and in 
token of his innocence embraces the Holy 
Nymph of Paradise, 'The Houri of the Shrine.' 
With joyous pace the victim hastens to the 
colossal statue, where in marvellous grandeur, 
by crafty hand beauteously carved in stone, 
with outstretched arms and saintly face, sweet 
with calm serenity, she stands, seeming even 
to pity from her throne. The mystic form he 
scarce embraces, when, quick as transit of a 
meteor, he finds his frail body wrapped as in a 
vice. Those horrid arms, with keen and 
triple-edged blades, nail him, powerless and 
quivering, to her lance-clad breast, with 
deadly and unerring power, until crushed, 
carved and gory, the expiring form is rent 
asunder. The Houri statue swerves apart, re- 
laxing her fiendish grasp of stone, and hurls 
the riven victim deep into the hideous engulf- 



HISTOBY OF THE SHRINE 27 

ing trap below, where, grim, dark, and loath- 
some, may be heard the distant and monoto- 
nous rippling of the turbid carnadine waters, 
echoing from the eternal chasm of the dead. 
The tribunal has done its duty. Retribution 
has fallen upon the fated malefactor, and the 
vengeance of the Shrine is satisfied." 

This is but one of the storied mysteries of 
the Oriental Shrine. 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 



"BILLY" FLORENCE'S INTEREST IN 
THE ORDER 

The details of the introduction of the Order 
into America are found in the published " His- 
tory." 

The late William J. Florence, the popular 
comedian, is concededly one of the first two 
founders of the Order in America, the other 
being Dr. Walter M. Fleming, of New York, 
who presided over Mecca Temple (the first 
Temple) nearly seventeen years, and was first 
Imperial Potentate of the Imperial Council, 
over which he also presided for about twelve 
years. 

The popular story is that, while on a tour of 
the Old World in 1870, the actor made the 
acquaintance of Yusef Churi, the famous 
Orientalist. Florence seems to have won that 
scholar's esteem as rapidly as he did that of 
occidentals who were thrown under the spell 
of his companionship, and Yusef presented 
him to the Sultan, who was the head of the 
Order in the East at the time. That potentate 
was likewise charmed with the American's 
good fellowship, and through his influence 
Florence was inducted into the mysteries at 
an Egyptian temple in Cairo. Through that 
connection with the Order he was enabled to 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 29 

secure a copy of the ritual, which he had 
translated from the Arabic into French, and 
then from the French into English. On his 
return to New York he used that ritual in 
founding Mecca Temple. So runs popular be- 
lief and current newspaper history. 

In 1882, when it was proposed to put the 
proceedings of the American body into printed 
form, Mr. Florence wrote a letter, which he 
apparently intended should give an account of 
his first glimpse into the Shrine and relate 
how he obtained the ritual. The following ex- 
tract is pertinent to this article: 

" In August, 1870, I was in the city of Mar- 
seilles, France, and having occasion to call on 
Duncan, Sherman & Co., bankers, I was told 
by one of the gentlemanly clerks that there 
was to be a ceremony of unusually attractive 
character at a hall near the Grand Hotel de 
l'Univers, and, knowing me to be a Mason, in- 
vited me to be present, offering to be my guide 
and voucher. My curiosity was excited by his 
glowing hints as to the initial wonders to be 
seen there. 

" Having been introduced to the anteroom of 
the hall in which the Mystic Shrine was con- 
cealed, I found a number of distinguished per- 
sons in animated conversation on the subject 
of our visit. One of these men was the British 
consul, another the Austrian vice-consul, and 
there were dukes and counts, bankers and 
merchants, scholars and artists, musicians and 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 



other professionals, all of whom seemed ab- 
sorbed in the question of how the French of 
Marseilles had succeeded in getting possession 
of such interesting secrets. 

"The Illustrious Potentate of the evening 
was the celebrated Yusef Churi Bey, and the 
Temple was called Bokhara Shrine. Shayk 
Yusek had visited Bokhara, where he was 
made a member of the Mystic Shrine in that 
famous city of the Persians, and brought away 
a hastily written sketch of the ritual and laws 
of the Order. 

" It would be impossible to give a complete 
narrative of the ceremonies of that communi- 
cation of the Nobles of Bokhara Shrine, and I 
must content myself with a mere outline. 
The costumes were exact duplicates of Oriental 
patterns brought from Persia by Yusef Bey. 
In his long service as an attache of the Persian 
consulate he had seen many countries, and 
profited by studies and observation in each, 
and was, therefore, well fitted to conduct such 
an institution. 

" The furniture of the Temple was the most 
peculiar I ever saw, and must have been got- 
ten up by some one well skilled in stage 
scenery, for there were very well contrived 
dramatic effects, representing the sandy sea- 
shore, the rough, rocky hillside, the gloomy 
cavern, the solemn tomb, and a transformation 
scene which was at first a cemetery full of 
tombs and monuments, inscribed with the 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 31 

names of the departed, with epitaphs on their 
virtues and worth, when in an instant, the 
lights having been lowered, the scene changed 
to a sumptuous banqueting hall, with small 
tables for groups of three, five, seven and nine. 

"I need not describe the work of the Temple 
any further than to say that the intention is 
to enact a drama very much like our own, 
which had for its object the same lesson, and 
there can be no better or more zealous workers 
in a good cause than those French brothers 
who celebrated the mysteries at Marseilles on 
that evening. 

" My duties prevented a sufficiently long stay 
to witness a second performance, and I there- 
fore begged Yusef Bey to allow me to have a 
copy of the ritual and laws, which I received 
on the day I sailed for Algiers. 

" In Algiers the Shrine of the Mogribins was 
in full operation, meeting each week on Friday 
evening. Abu Mohammed Baki was the Shayk, 
and among the members were nearly every 
one of the many consuls, vice-consuls and other 
diplomats of the port, many of the most noted 
merchants and bankers, and not a few of the 
learned and gifted Mohammedans, who are 
passionately fond of perpetuating ancient cus- 
toms which increase their social pleasures. 
The costumes and furniture of the Shrine in 
Algiers were gorgeous, in silk, wool, and fine 
linen, decorated with embroidery in gold, sil- 
ver, and colors; and the sword, spears, and 



6Z HISTORY OF THE SHEINE 

other articles used by the guards and officers 
in the work were genuine steel, many of which 
had been in actual service in the field of battle. 

"The Shrine is referred to by the Moslems 
generally as 'The Order of the Unwritten 
Law,' in distinction from 'The Written Law,' 
which is the Koran." 

This letter of the dead actor seems to indi- 
cate whence he got the ritual which he brought 
to America, but it does not clearly explain 
how deep he dipped into the mysteries of the 
Order in the Orient. A few months before 
Florence died, Grand Secretary Parvin, of Iowa, 
submitted to him a newspaper clipping stat- 
ing, among other things, that he was initiated 
at Cairo. The actor wrote in response: 

" The points in the paper are mainly correct. 
I was the first to introduce the Order in Amer- 
ica. Dr. Fleming amplified and perfected the 
work." 

Dr. Fleming furnishes the following author- 
itative statement for this sketch: 

"Mr. Florence was entertained as a Mason 
at Marseilles, in Bokhara Temple of the Ara- 
bic Bektash. He at this time simply witnessed 
the opening session of the exoteric ceremonials 
which characterize the politico-religious order 
of Bektash of Oriental Europe. A monitorial, 
historic and explanatory manuscript he also 
received there. It did not embrace the eso- 
teric, inner Temple exemplification or obliga- 
tion, nor the ' unwritten law,' which is never 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 



imparted to any one except from mouth to ear. 
Shortly afterwards Mr. Florence was similarly 
favored in Algiers and Aleppo. Through let- 
ters and commendations he finally secured the 
manuscript monitor, history and descriptive 
matter from which sprang the Order in this 
country. It was in Algiers and Aleppo that 
he was received into the inner Temple, under 
the domain of the crescent, and first became 
possessor of the esoteric work, the ' unwritten 
law,' and the Shayk's obligation. Subse- 
quently he visited Cairo, Egypt, and was ad- 
mitted, and collected more of Oriental history 
and the manuscript of 'Memorial Ceremonials.' 
But Mr. Florence was never fully recognized 
or possessed of authority until long after his 
return to America. All he possessed was a 
disconnected series of sheets in Arabic and 
French, with some marginal memoranda made 
by himself from verbal elucidation in Aleppo. 
Through Prof. Albert L. Rawson these, with 
others received afterwards through corre- 
spondence abroad, comprised the translations 
from which the Order started here. Mr. Flor- 
ence and Dr. Walter M. Fleming received 
authority to introduce the Order in America. 



34 HISTOBY OF THE SHRINE 



"ALLEGORICAL MASONRY' ! 

DEDICATED TO 
MASONRY AND THE SHRINE. 



BY DR. WALTER M. FLEMING, 33 ° , " HIPPOCRATES. 



One dreary midnight on my couch I lay, 

Waiting, watching for the dawn of day ; 

Wakeful, fevered, and weary of the strife 

That needs must come as we journey through this life. 

In quick succession vague thoughts crossed my mind, 

Of life, death and creed, and where rest I might find. 

And thus absorbed in thought, with little hope or fear, 

I saw the welcome Genius, Masonry, appear. 

There he stood, majestic, and with regal mien; 

About his form were rays of comfort to be seen. 

Clothed in hieroglyphic robe and crown, 

He brought and laid a sacred volume down. 

Misery and discontent then from me fled 

As I arose refreshed from the unwelcome bed. 

The genius and myself, now hand in hand, 

Walked forth into another and brighter land. 

The hoodwink having fallen from my eyes, 

I looked around with wonder and surprise. 

There the royal order's precepts came 

And filled my heart with comfort's purest flame; 

Each clothed in most appropriate costume, 

As though they did Aurora's colors all consume; 

Each by itself, its own identity unsoiled, 

Proved that perfection had old error foiled. 

" Divine Astrea" was there, and stood upon his right, 

And I, a mortal, did not cause her flight. 

There "White-robed Truth" in splendor did appear, 

And tender Mercy banished every fear. 

Faith, like an angel maiden wreathed in smiles, 

Clung to her sister Hope, both free from guiles ; 

While kind-hearted Charity formed the three 

In beautiful triangle, that enraptured me. 

Next came old Wisdom, with his hoary head; 



HISTOBY OF THE SHRINE 35 

Here, too, Benevolence, with his aged, stooping form, 

Led soft-eyed Pity in, shivering from the storm. 

In strode the kingly form of Toleration, 

Clothed in every hue, and known to every nation. 

Equality came, too, as the old Knight's proud esquire, 

And Power shed around her effulgent fire. 

Love and Friendship in their bridal robes, 

With rosy mien, passed in between the globes. 

There, too, was Order, to encircle all, 

And direct Temperance to the banquet hall. 

Then Silence appeared, with key suspended from her 

breast, 
His brother Strength the aged monarch led. 
And there bright Beauty gaily tripped along, 
Casting radiance o'er the mystic throng. 
" Humanity, the universal friend," now came; 
Unwearied Zeal pressed forward crowned with fame. 
And Secrecy then came— his lips his fingers pressed, 
Followed by sweet Music, with all her charms, 
Encircling Rhetoric in her lovely arms. 
Peace and Plenty there stood in statued group, 
Crushing War and Want with one fell swoop. 
Conquest with his glittering blade rode proudly in, 
Protecting Obligation and suppressing sin. 
Constancy and Courage, both on foaming steeds, 
Dashed in as warlike champions on the lead, 
Conquering and to conquer vice and deceit, 
Crushing Injustice and Oppression 'neath their feet. 
Then came Fidelity, with confiding heart, 
And meek Humility in sackcloth stood apart ; 
While Honor, in gold and royal purple clad, 
Was all the protector that tender Virtue had. 
Still on they came, assembling thick and fast, 
Each with his brilliant armor or her jewel case, 
Until my mind and gaze were ravished so 
That I could scarce conceive the grand tableau. 
The herald, Attention, then abruptly came 
In glittering armor, and loudly called my name. 
He gave my shoulder with his burnished blade a stroke, 
And said, "Arise, and follow me !" Then thus he spoke : 
"Our Master, Masonry, by your altar stands, 
He bids you come and view the promised lands." 
I followed fast, and by the altar stood, 
Where the Genius firmly pointed to the word of God. 
Surrounded by his train, the ancient monarch spoke : 
" My son, lean on the staff that never broke; 
It is the Bible, which, well observed, ensures 
Freedom from the snares by which vile sin allures ; 



36 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

This, with my Order's attributes here shown, 

Will guide you safely to the hoped for throne. 

Behold the Goddess of Justice, bright Astrea there, 

She will direct thee how to use the Square ; 

And Truth will warn you to avoid the Lie, 

While Mercy bids you to all ills defy, 

Faith, Hope and Charity, these sisters three, 

Will ensure the blessings of Eternity ; 

And Wisdom, Strength and Beauty, all Divine, 

Are precepts whose virtues live beyond all time ; 

Humanity and Zeal instruct thee in the art 

Of great goodness and earnestness to fulfill your part ; 

Benevolence and Pity, to be generous and kind, 

While Toleration and Equality unite men in one mind ; 

Love and Friendship will strew your path with flowers, 

Order and blithe Temperance will yield you happy 

hours ; 
Secrecy and Silence direct you ne'er disclose 
'Whate'er your brethren in your faithful breast repose ;' 
Sweet Music, ever ready to strike harmonious lyre, 
Will lend herself to Rhetoric, and every heart inspire ; 
Peace and Plenty, ever welcome, will to your hearth- 
stone come, 
And firm Constancy and Courage will protect your 

home; 
Injustice and Oppression ever set aside, 
But let Fidelity and Honor with your name abide ; 
Humility will become you, however great you be, 
And sweet Virtue is a jewel through all Eternity. 
What blessings I will now on mortal man bestow." 
Thus having spoken the Genius did depart, 
Leaving all his teachings stamped upon my heart. 
Slowly all dispersed and vanished from my sight 
Like an ancient legend, mystery, or tale of Arab's night, 
And left upon my conscience a vision so sublime 
That if ne'er again I see it, it will not efface by time. 
And I awoke encouraged from lethargy and dream, 
As much amazed as pleased with the tableau I had seen. 
And now as from degree to grade I firmly onward plod, 
I see the paths that lead us from mortality to God. 
April 9, 1875. 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 37 



CELEBRATION OF MOHARUM 

OR THE ARABIC NEW YEAR. 



COMMEMORATION OF THE BEGINNING OF THE FOUR- 
TEENTH CENTURY, A. H. 1301. INTERESTING CERE- 
MONIES OBSERVED NOVEMBER 1, 1833. 



The ceremonies which characterize the 
august event which is observed by the high 
dignitaries and chiefs of Temples of the 
Mystic Shrine, throughout the jurisdiction of 
the Imperial Council of the Order, as well as 
in Oriental Europe, are as follows: 

"The observance of the annual ceremonies 
of hailing the Arabic New Year are imposing, 
but the rare privileges of participating in the 
commemoration of the dawn of a new century 
is an event which falls to the lot of man but 
once; for ere another transpires the entire 
generation will have been called to the Unseen 
Temple. 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 



ESOTERIC RITES 



" The observance of these esoteric rites is re- 
garded as a sacred duty on the part of all Im- 
perial and Grand Potentates, Grand Sheiks, 
Noble Shareefs, Illustrious Rabbans, and all 
the exalted officials of the Order. Therefore, all 
that can possibly be conveyed in one congress, 
at the largest and most accessible point in 
each state of the jurisdiction, assemble to 
observe these mystic ceremonies. Ancient 
provision exacts that these observances shall 
prevail and continue from the appearance of 
the crescent moon until it reaches the full; or, 
during the first third of the lunar month. In 
America it may be appointed at any specific or 
chosen time within that cycle. 

"These exemplifications are sought to em- 
brace a diffuse portrayal of the gems of verities 
and sums of subleties laid down in Al Koran, 
replete with Oriental symbolisms and impres- 
sive surroundings, 'impossible to all except 
the initiated of the Inner Tabernacle of the 
Moslem Shrine, under the dominion of the 
crescent.' They are as ancient as the corner- 
stone of Mohammed's temple at Mecca, as 
sacred as the Moslem oath that binds the 
tribes of Arabia to Allah, or their God, and are 
derived from the mythology in the deep and 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 39 

mysterious legends of the Koran. Its votaries 
are figuratively expected to except the 
prophecy of the approaching millennium, the 
warning of the Ulema, and the appearance of 
Al Mahdi and the end of the world. Our 
most glorious attributes are to be exemplified, 
acquitting ourselves of all temporal thoughts, 
and preparing at any sacrifice to expiate all 
sin. We elucidate the embodiment and 
personification of 'the great Islam,' with 
pageants, Zaims, defenders and retinue, fol- 
lowed by the wailing dervishes with sandaled 
feet, all amid the sweet perfumes of Arabia's 
incense, from the swinging censers and altars 
of sacrifice, with accompanying fervent music, 
deep, sad, and austere, and yet a weird and 
mystic melody. 



40 HISTOBY OF THE S HEINE 

COMMEMORATING THE PROPHECY 

We thus commemorate the inspired prophecy 
announced at Mecca centuries ago, with the 
transformation of 'The Adoration,' or, 'The 
Keys of Secret Knowledge,' 'The Inevitable,' 
' The Rending Asunder,' of Al Koran, and the 
final individualization of the soul and the re- 
cognition of Allah the Most High ; and, 
although clad in steel, gold and glory, humbly 
bow down in reverence and humility, and pro- 
claim that 'Allah is God,' the merciful and 
compassionate; and the earnestness and sin- 
cerity of the devotion should be so absolute as 
to render the sanctuary of the Shrine a temple 
of purity, acceptable even for the presence of 
'Allah,' 'The Most High,' and thus prepare 
ourselves and our disciples for reception into 
the Unseen Temple — the promised paradise. 
We teach that powers supreme govern our 
destinies, and admonish all to respect every 
religion, even believing none, and give the 
assurance that a noble heart may throb alike 
in breast of Arab, Christian, Greek or Turk. 
We exemplify the attributes of toleration, 
truth and justice. We war against fanaticism 
and superstition, and demonstrate retribution; 
and we welcome to our alters all duly qualified, 
enlightened men who believe in God, without 
regard to their nativity or faith." 



40 HISTOBY OF THE SHRINE 

COMMEMORATING THE PROPHECY 

We thus commemorate the inspired prophecy 
announced at Mecca centuries ago, with the 
transformation of 'The Adoration,' or, 'The 
Keys of Secret Knowledge,' 'The Inevitable,' 
' The Rending Asunder,' of Al Koran, and the 
final individualization of the soul and the re- 
cognition of Allah the Most High ; and, 
although clad in steel, gold and glory, humbly 
bow down in reverence and humility, and pro- 
claim that 'Allah is God,' the merciful and 
compassionate; and the earnestness and sin- 
cerity of the devotion should be so absolute as 
to render the sanctuary of the Shrine a temple 
of purity, acceptable even for the presence of 
'Allah,' 'The Most High,' and thus prepare 
ourselves and our disciples for reception into 
the Unseen Temple — the promised paradise. 
We teach that powers supreme govern our 
destinies, and admonish all to respect every 
religion, even believing none, and give the 
assurance that a noble heart may throb alike 
in breast of Arab, Christian, Greek or Turk. 
We exemplify the attributes of toleration, 
truth and justice. We war against/cma^ezsm 
and superstition, and demonstrate retribution; 
and we welcome to our alters all duly qualified, 
enlightened men who believe in God, without 
regard to their nativity or faith." 




stertfj UDeVniatct: 



THE NEXT MORNING' 




THE NEXT MORNING" 



HISTOEY OF THE SHBIXE 



SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FEZ 



The Nobles wear rich costumes of Eastern 
character, made of silk and brocaded velvet of 
Oriental intensity of color. The ordinary cos- 
tume for street parade is conventional black 
with the regulation fez. 

When pilgrimages to Mecca were interrupted 
by the Crusades about A. D. 980, the Moham- 
medans west of the Nile journeyed to Fez (or 
Fas), in Morocco, as to a holy city. Among 
the flourishing manufactures of the city was a 
head covering called tarboosh, now known 
as fez, which was dyed scarlet for the students 
in a great school at that city. In that way it 
became a mark of learning, and gradually dis- 
placed other forms and colors of hats. It was 
carried in all directions by caravans, and thus 
became the distinguishing head-dress of Mos- 
lems in every part of the empire. 

Don't forget your Fez. Put it in your pocket, 
take it with you, then wear it, but keep this 
warning in mind: The Imperial Laws forbid 
the wearing of the Fez at any other place than 
a meeting of the Temple, so i you desire to 
leave the Temple to see a man or for any other 
purpose, wear any old thing but the Fez. 



42 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 



ABD-EL-KADER AND THE SHRINE. 



IMPERIAL DEATH DECREE. 

Abd-el-Kader. — Died at Damascus, May 26, 
1883, aged 76 years. 

Nobility of the Mystic Shrine ! Proclam- 
ation emanating from the Congress, Im- 
perial Council, Ancient Arabic Order, 
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, United States 
of America : 

To all Illustrious Potentates, Rabbans and 
Noble Shareefs throughout the jurisdiction of 
the Western Hemisphere: Affliction! Dis- 
tress! Sorrow! Illustrious Noble El-Hadji 
Abd-El-Kader, Grand Sheik of Alee Temple, 
Mecca, Arabia, under the domain of the Cres- 
cent, is dead. This renowned Shareef of the 
Order Bektasheeyek, of Temple Saladin, 
Damascus, is officially announced departed to 
the Unseen Temple. You are hereby com- 
manded, imperial and subordinate, for the full 
term of the next three crescent moons after 
this mandate, within the Mystic Sanctuaries 
of the Shrine, in accordance with the ancient 
Oriental custom, to drape your altars and 
tombs with the insignia of mourning, and let 
the symbolic funeral urn be placed upon the 
sacred black stone, there to exhale incense 
during all ceremonials, and inscribe upon your 
temple records notice of the same. Executive 
action will also be taken at the annual session 



HISTORY OF THE SHEINE - 43 

of the Imperial Council on June 6, 1883, at 

Masonic Temple, City of New York. In 

obedience to supreme decree. 

Walter M. Fleming 33°, 

Imperial Potentate. 
William S. Paterson 33°, 

Imperial Recorder. 



44 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 



ABD-EL-KADER'S BRETHREN 

MOURN FOR HIM IN 

ARABIAN FORM 

Abd-el-Kader's death in Damascus on Sat- 
urday was mourned in the Consistorial Cham- 
ber in the Masonic Temple by the American 
branch of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles 
of the Mystic Shrine, May 31. The mourners 
included: Dr. W. M. Fleming, Captains J. B. 
Eakins and A. S. Williams; the Rev. C. L. 
Twing, W. S. Paterson, A. L. Rawson, A. W. 
Peters, P. C. Benjamin, G. W. Millar, C. H. 
Heyser, J. McGee, Bensen Sherwood, Charles 
Roome, C. T. McClenachan, J. M. Levey, J. F. 
Waring, C. W. Torrey, and Grand Potentates, 
Rabbans and Shareefs from various temples in 
the east and west. The mourners wore a full 
Arabic costume of fine and elaborately deco- 
rated silks. Gold crescents glistened on their 
turbans, tiger claws bound together in the 
form of crescents, Sphinx heads, golden suns, 
stars, pyramids, and Egyptian obelisks were 
pinned upon their breasts. Gray-bearded 
High Priests stood on a throne and conducted 
the memorial rites. Banners bearing inscrip- 
tions in Arabic stood behind the High Priests. 
In front of the throne was a black velvet coffin 
containing a bleached skeleton, typifying 
death. A letter written on parchment by 
Abd-El-Kader, a golden helmet, and emblems 
of the Order rested upon the coffin. An altar 



HISTOEX OF THE SHRINE 45 

draped in mourning was in the middle of the 
chamber. A symbolical urn exhaled incense 
during the ceremonies. Two scimeters were 
crossed at the base of the urn on one end of 
the altar, and a copy of the Koran in Arabic 
was upon the other end, with glittering scima- 
tors crossed upon it. A large tomb, the sides 
of which were covered with heiroglyphics, 
stood at the end of the chamber, and two 
masked and turbaned Rabbans, glittering with 
mystic emblems, sat in front of the tomb, be- 
fore which rose a banner bearing the words, 
Essalamu aleikum, or "Peace be with you*". 

This ceremonial was one of the first of a long 
series of Shrine Memorial Services, impressive 
and beautiful, which have since this time pre- 
vailed in all of the Temples of the Shrine 
throughout the Western Hemisphere. 



46 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

MECCA TEMPLE 

NEW YORK, N. Y. 



HISTORY OP THE FIRST TEMPLE IN AMERICA. 



As fully set forth in the proceeding history, 
Ill/.William J. Florence was initiated into 
the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the 
Mystic Shrine, and imparted the knowledge of 
the ceremonies to Dr. Walter M. Fleming, of 
New York, who was empowered to introduce 
and establish the Order in America. It was 
determined to confer it only on Free and 
Accepted Masons of the higher degrees, and 
on the 16th of June, 1871, a number of Knights 
Templar and Thirty-seconds and Thirty-thirds 
of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite were 
assembled at Masonic Hall, No. 114 East 13th 
Street, New York, when the proposition to en- 
gage in the establishment of the new Order 
was enthusiastically accepted, and the follow- 
ing eleven Brethern were duly received: 

EDWAED EDDY, 

OSWALD MERLE D'AUBIGNE, 

JAMES S. CHAPPELL, 

JOHN A. MOORE, 

CHARLES T. McCLENACHAN, 

WILLIAM S. PATERSON, 

GEORGE W. MILLAR, 

ALBERT P. MORIARTY, 

DANIEL SICKELS, 

JOHN W. SIMONS. 

SHERWOOD C. CAMPBELL. 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 47 

The necessary arrangements having been 
fairly completed in the meantime, a regular 
session was called at the above hall, on Sep- 
tember 26, 1872, when the above Nobles, except 
Nobles Florence and Campbell, were present, 
and in due form established a regular Temple, 
under the name of Mecca Temple, for the ex- 
emplification of the ceremonies and reception 
of neophytes, and the original thirteen Nobles 
named as its charter members. Letters of ad- 
vice and instruction from Noble W. J. Florence 
were read, and the history of the Order, 
together with the circumstances of its appear- 
ance in America, was given, by Noble W. M. 
Fleming. The following officers were then 
duly elected: 

Walter M. Fleming Potentate 

Charles T. McClenachen.. .Chief Rabban 

John A. Moore Assistant Rabban 

William S. Pateeson Recorder 

Edward Eddy High Priest 

James S. Chappell Treasurer 

George W. Millar Oriental Guide 

Oswald M. D'Aubigne. .. Captain of Guard 

The rest of the regular officers of the Temple 
were not elected until a subsequent session. 

The next Session was held at the same 
place, on January 12, 1874, when a quorum of 
seven was present. The only business trans- 
acted was the appointment of Nobles McClen- 
achan, Moore, and Paterson as a committee to 
revise and perfect the Ritual to facilitate the 
exemplification of the Order, and to prepare 
by-laws, for the government of the Temple. 



48 HISTOEY OF THE SHEINE 

On January 4, 1875, the Order was conferred 
on Brother George F. Loder and seven asso- 
ciates, to form a Temple in Rochester, N. Y., 
which was duly organized under the name of 
Damascus, with a charter from Mecca Temple. 
Noble Bensen Sherwood was created on June 1. 

A session was held at the new Masonic Hall, 
Twenty-third street and Sixth avenue, on 
December 13, 1875, but no business was trans- 
acted. 

The work of Damascus Temple gave some 
impetus to the Order, and during this year 
Noble Fleming selected a number of prominent 
Masons, and invested them with the rights and 
prerogatives of Past Potentates for the pur- 
pose of establishing subordinate Temples, and 
they were accredited as members of Mecca un- 
til they joined another Temple. The Order was 
subsequently conferred on the following Thirty- 
third degree Masons: Ill/.Orrin Welch, Syra- 
cuse, N. Y.; 111.-. John D. Williams, Elmira, N. 
Y.; Ill.-.Charles H. Thomson, Corning, N. Y.; 
Ill.-.Townsend Fondey, Ill.-.John S. Dicker- 
man, and Ill.-.Robert H. Waterman, Albany, 
N. Y.; Ill.-.John F. Collins, New York, N. Y.; 
Ill.-.John L. Stettinius, Cincinnati, O.; 111.-. Vin- 
cent L. Hurlburt, Chicago, 111.; 111.-. Samuel H. 
Harper, Pittsburg, Pa.; and Ill.-.George Scott, 
Paterson, N. J. 

To the Unseen Temple, Noble Campbell 
passed in 1874, and Nobles Chappell, D'Au- 
bigne, and Eddy in 1875, leaving only nine of 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 49 

the original thirteen to carry on the work. It 
was now proposed to add a number of active 
Masons to the Temple for the advancement of 
the Order, and afterward to institute a general 
governing body for the jurisdiction, both of 
which were accomplished at the next session 
held at Masonic Hall, on June 6, 1876, when 
twenty -rive neophytes were received and duly 
obligated. 

Noble Fleming called the Nobles to order 
immediately after the session, and informed 
them that the principal object was to form and 
organize a Parent Body, or Imperial Council 
of the Order for the United States of America. 



50 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 



FORMATION OF IMPERIAL COUNCIL 

The Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic 
Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for the 
United States of America was then duly 
organized, and the following officers were 
elected for the term of three years: 



IH.'.Walter M. Fleming .. .Imperial Potentate 
New York 

George F. Loder Deputy Potentate 

Rochester 

Philip F. Lenhart Chief Eabban 

Brooklyn 

Edward M. L. Ehlers .. Assistant Rabban 
New York 

William H. Whiting High Priest 

Rochester 

Samuel R. Carter Oriental Guide 

Rochester 

Aaron L. Northrop Treasurer 

New York 

William S. Paterson Recorder 

New York 

Albert P. Moriarty . . Financial Secretary 
New York 

John L. Stettinius First Cer. Master 

Cincinnati 

Bensen Sherwood Second Cer. Master 

New York 

Samuel Harper Marshal 

Pittsburg 

Frank H. Bascom. . . Captain of the Gaurd 
Montpelier 

George Scott Outer Guard 

Paterson 



They were duly installed by Noble McClen- 
achan, and the Imperial Council was pro- 
claimed formally organized. 



HISTORY OF THE SHEINE 51 

It will be noted that the first resolution 
adopted is still in force, as follows: 

"That the Grand Orient of this Imperial 
Council shall be at the City of New York, 
N. Y." 

The prerequisites for the Order were defined 
by the adoption of the following resolutions: 

"Resolved, That the prerequisite for recep- 
tion into the Order of the Nobles of the Mys- 
tic Shrine, in the United States of America, 
shall be that applicants shall be Knights 
Templar, according to the requirements of the 
Grand Encampment of Knights Templar for 
the United States of America, as has prevailed 
previous to the organization of this Imperial 
Council. 

"Resolved, That a Mason of the Thirty- 
second Degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish 
Rite, be also made a prerequisite for receiving 
the Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine 
thus making the prerequisite for receiving the 
Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine a 
Knight Templar or a Thirty-second Degree 
Mason of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite." 

Temples were empowered to confer the office 
and grade of Potentate upon five members, for 
the purpose of creating Past Potentates for 
Honorary Membership in the Imperial body. 
The charter fee, with ritual, for new Temples, 
was made fifty dollars, and ten dollars annual 
dues, instead of any per capita tax. A mini- 
mum fee of ten dollars for initiation was 



52 HISTOBY OF THE SHRINE 

adopted. The first act was to grant a charter 
to Mecca Temple of New York, N. Y., bearing 
date of September 26, 1872, " it being the first 
regularly organized Temple of the Order in the 
United States." 

The work of the Imperial Body was begun 
by the appointment of a Committee on Sta- 
tutes and Regulations, with Noble McClena- 
chan as chairman. 

The Imperial Council was at this time con - 
stituted of active members for life, who were 
Potentates or Past Potentates, and were not to 
exceed thirty-three. The new members, as 
they were elected, if not Potentates, were first 
raised to the dignity of Past Potentates, and 
proclaimed active members. The next annual 
session was to be held in Albany on February 
6, 1877, and thereafter in the same place in the 
first week of the same month. The regular 
officers were to be elected triennially. 

The fifth session of Mecca Temple was held 
at the new Masonic Hall, on January 16, 1877, 
when the Potentate stated that during the in- 
terim, in his capacity of Imperial Potentate, 
he had conferred the Order on a large number 
of desirable Sir Knights and Thirty-second 
and Thirty-third Degree Masons, both in and 
out of the city, and thereby had largely in- 
creased the membership, in order to promote 
the advancement of the Temple. He spoke at 
length on the Order, the Imperial Body having 
perfected the ritual, statutes, history, diplo- 



HISTOEY OF THE SHEIXE 53 

mas, dispensations and charters at great out- 
lay; also that members, Temples, deputies and 
representatives now extend from the extreme 
east to the west, and from the north to the 
south of our jurisdiction, and the Order is 
destined to become a most popular and power- 
ful one in America. It was reported that 
Noble J. A. Moore, one of the thirteen, entered 
the Unseen Temple Xovember 7, 1876. 

On February 6, 1877, the Imperial Council 
held its regular annual session at Masonic 
Temple, in Albany, X. Y., which was attended 
by a large number of the Xobles of Mecca, 
Xaja. Cyprus, and Damascus Temples. The 
progress made during the year was encourag- 
ing, and the Imperial Potentate gave a resume 
of the work up to that time. Mecca and Da- 
mascus Temples had been duly established, 
and dispensations had been granted to form 
Al Koran of Cleveland, Syrian of Cincinnati, 
Mount Sinai of Montpelier, and Xaja and 
Cypres Temples of Albany. These had done 
good work, and made a large number of mem- 
bers. The active membership of the Imperial 
Body was filled up to the number of thirty, 
the statutes were perfected and adopted, and 
provision was made that every Xoble should 
receive a diploma from the Imperial Body. 
The jewels and costumes of the various officers, 
imperial and subordinate, were carefully de- 
fined, and every Temple was required to select 
an ancient Arabic or Egyptian name, by which 
it should be known. 



54 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

During this year Damascus Temple had cos- 
tumed its officers, procured suitable parapher- 
nalia, and thoroughly acquired the ritual. The 
first of a long list of pilgrimages by Mecca, 
which is given elsewhere, was inaugurated by 
Nobles Florence, Fleming, Paterson and others, 
who visited Damascus Temple, and witnessed 
the full exemplification of the work there for 
the first time, when over fifty candidates were 
initiated, and over one hundred Nobles sat 
down to a bountiful banquet. 

At the session of September 18, 1877, an earn- 
est desire was expressed to equip the body, 
and at the earliest opportunity proceed to con- 
fer the Order in full form. A number of vacan- 
cies in the official divan was filled up, and 
Noble J. R. Telfair was made Treasurer. The 
Potentate was empowered to procure the 
necessary printing required by the Temple for 
its proper working, sessions were to be held 
more frequently, and suitable rooms procured. 

The Masonic Hall in East Thirteenth street 
was regularly engaged, and the next session 
held on November 19, 1877, when several 
propositions were received, and Brothers T. J. 
Herman Daum and Willard A. Pearce were 
created Nobles in ample form. 

On December 3, the Committee on By-laws 
reported a code which was adopted, a Com- 
mittee on Paraphernalia was appointed, and 
Noble J. F. Waring was created. 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 55 

At the next session, December 17, 1877, the 
election of the full number of officers for the 
first time was held, as follows: 

111. \ Walter M. Fleming Potentate 

Charles T. McClenachan. ..Chief Rabban 
Edward M. L. Ehlers .. .Assistant Rabban 

James A. Reed High Priest 

George W. Millar Oriental Guide 

Jacob R. Telfair Treasurer 

William S. Paterson Recorder 

John F. Collins Ceremonial Master 

Edwin Du Laurans Standard Bearer 

William D. May Marshal 

W. Wallace Walker Captain of Guard 

Stephen W. Swift Outer Guard 

During 1878 ten sessions were regularly held, 
at which a large number of Nobles were cre- 
ated, among whom were Nobles Joseph B. 
Eakins and Charles W. Torrey. The election 
of officers was postponed at the December 
session. 

In 1879 only four sessions were held, at one 
of which an election of officers for the year was 
held, but they were pregnant with the desire 
to place Mecca in the front rank as to parapher- 
nalia, costumes, work, and membership. The 
year ended with a membership of one hundred 
and three, and a number of enthusiastic 
Nobles, among whom was Noble Augustus W. 
Peters, who prepared the way for the accom- 
plishment of the above desires. 

Brother Charles H. Heyser, while visiting 
Cleveland, in company with Noble Joseph B. 
Eakins, was invited to attend Al Koran Tem- 
ple, June 12, where he was created a Noble in 



56 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

full form, becoming a member of Mecca. Both 
the above were highly impressed with the ex- 
cellent rendition of the ceremonies, and im- 
mediately proposed that Mecca become fully 
equipped. The elegant rooms in Temple Hall, 
No. 117 West Twenty-third Street, were se- 
cured for the opening session of January 9, 
1880, and several Nobles proposed a large 
number of candidates to be introduced at that 
time, mainly through the influence of Captain 
Eakins. The necessary paraphenalia was 
procured, the officers were fully instructed in 
the Ritual, and everything betokened a bril- 
liant future. 

At the end of the year 1879, the Imperial 
Recorder reported that there were thirty active 
members of the Imperial Body, thirteen Dep- 
uties, and thirteen Temples, having a total 
membership of 438 Nobles, being an increase 
of thirteen over the number reported for 1878. 
Damascus Temple was leading with 148 
Nobles. 

On Friday, January 9, 1880, Mecca was 
opened in a blaze of glory, fifty members being 
present, and a large number of visitors from 
other Temples. Fifty Sons of the Desert 
passed the Moslem test. The ceremonies 
were conducted in full form, with appropriate 
music by the Temple Quartet and Organist 
who have continued to the present time. The 
paraphenalia and costumes were gorgeous. 
The sessions were thereafter held nearly every 




WHAT HE TOLD HIS WIFE 



m 



$ Ac $ 







VMAT HE TOLD HIS WJFE 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 57 

month. In February the initiation fee was 
raised to $15, and a diploma from the Imperial 
Body furnished to all Nobles. On June 2 the 
Imperial Council was entertained by Mecca, 
when over 200 Nobles were present; twelve 
Nobles were created, and a grand banquet was 
given. At the annual sessions of the Imperial 
Body in February, 1879 and 1880, Nobles 
Fowler, Eakins and Torrey were elected active 
members. 

At the session of January 28, 1881, the offi- 
cers for the year were elected, Noble Peters 
becoming Assistant Rabban, vice Noble 
Eakins, who was appointed Director on ac- 
count of the multiplicity of work. The wis- 
dom of the latter choice is seen in the pros- 
perity of Mecca ever since. The office of 
Director has since become established by the 
Imperial Body. A proposition to dispense 
with the By-laws was agreed to, leaving full 
power in the hands of the presiding officer. 
On June 9 the Imperial Council held its annual 
session in Mecca's rooms, and in the evening 
attended the session of Mecca, when over two 
hundred and fifty were present, who witnessed 
the initiation of eight Sons of the Desert, and 
participated in a grand banquet. During the 
year the Recorder introduced the proper 
Arabic feasts in connection with the Arabic 
calendar, which have since become adopted. 

On September 29, 1882, Noble Florence was 
introduced as the "Father of the Order", and 



58 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

warmly welcomed. He said that when he as- 
sisted in introducing the Order into this 
country, he never expected to behold the 
magnificence of ritual and ceremony which 
surrounded him, and to meet the large num- 
bers who took such unallayed pleasure in pur- 
suing the unwritten teachings, laws and 
ceremonies, and participating in the ceremon- 
ies of the Order. At Algiers, Cairo, and 
Marseilles, he was very much impressed with 
the Arabian mysteries, which he then beheld 
for the first time, and it resulted in bringing 
before those found worthy in the United 
States, an order whose teachings were profit- 
able. After the ceremonies of the evening he 
also expressed his unbounded delight at the 
beauty and magnificence with which Mecca 
Temple had imbued the wierd Arabic cere- 
mony, and that he had never witnessed such 
an exemplification in all his travels. 

At the annual session of the Imperial Coun- 
cil, June 7, 1882, the constitution of the body 
was changed to a representation of the Tem- 
ples, which later was modified to one delegate 
from each Temple, and one for every three 
hundred members, but not to exceed four dele- 
gates from each Temple. The proceedings of 
this year were the first printed, and are en- 
riched with correspondence from the East, 
through Noble A. L. Rawson, who had visited 
the interior of Mecca and had a large ac- 
quaintance with prominent members of the 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 59 

Order abroad. These proceedings contain 
much of the early history of the Order in 
America. Before the change in the constitu- 
tion of the Imperial Body the number of active 
members had been filled up to the full num- 
ber of thirty-three, who had been raised to the 
dignity of Past Potentates under the previous 
constitution. 

On May 31, 1883, solemn ceremonies were 
held in memory of the renowned Abd-el-Kader, 
the announcement of whose death on May 26 
was given by the press, and the official notice 
of which will be found elsewhere. The papers 
had reported that he died at Constantinople, 
but the private advices of the Recorder ena- 
bled him to correct it, as he died in Damascus, 
which the papers afterward reported two days 
later. It excited much attention, as it was a 
surprise to all here that it would affect nearly 
five thousand Nobles of an Order to which he 
was allied in Arabia. At the session of June 
6 the Imperial Body took official action also, 
and a full history of the Noble was published 
in the proceedings. 

On June 6, 1883, the Imperial Body held its 
Triennial Session at the Masonic Hall, New 
York, and Nobles W. J. Florence, C. T. McCle- 
nachan, and A. L. Rawson were elected Emer- 
itus members. 

The fourteenth century of the Hegira, 1301, 
began November 1, and comment thereon was 
made in the press. On November .30 a mid- 



60 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

night session, in addition to the regular one, 
was held for the benefit of Nobles G. B. Claf- 
lin, Gus Williams, and "Tony" Pastor, who 
were unable to receive the Order at an early 
hour on account of their theatrical engage- 
ments. They were created Nobles in full form, 
and the Temple was closed at 1:00 o'clock. 
The next morning the public and the frater- 
nity were startled by the report that the top 
floor of the Temple was burned out. This 
caused the loss of everything on that floor, 
costumes, paraphernalia, etc., valued at $2,750. 
These had, however, always been insured, and 
$2,000 was realized from that provident source. 
The fire has always been regarded as myster- 
ious, and the press throughout the country 
gave the Nobles many adverse comments. 
The fire marshal, however, reported that the 
fire was caused by a defective flue. On De- 
cember 27 the Director reported that he had 
ordered everything, and the Temple was fully 
equipped in another month. Only one Com- 
mandery was uninsured, and, on motion, $200. 
was immediately donated. 

On January 31, 1884, the session was held in 
the Grand Lodge room. A delegation of forty- 
seven Nobles of Lu Lu Temple, of Philadel- 
phia, visited Mecca, and was cordially wel- 
comed. In February, Noble Rev. A. Buchanan, 
of Moundsville, W. Va., reported the losses 
sustained by his parish from inundations, and 
$100 was immediately donated to him. In 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 61 

May, Noble J. M. Levey was reported visiting 
Europe, who brought back a splendidly bound 
copy of the Koran, which now adorns the 
altar. Over forty Nobles of Mecca visited 
Medinah Temple, of Chicago, on April 16-21, 
and were handsomely entertained, and in 
recognition thereof Mecca presented to Me- 
dinah Temple a full set of gold jewels for the 
officers. On November 5 a large number of 
Nobles visited Lu Lu Temple in their new 
hall. On December 19 a grand installation 
ceremony was held, especially dedicated to the 
ladies. An elaborate programme was provided, 
comprising addresses, Arabic feast, music, 
songs, ventriloquism, etc. A great many ladies 
were present, and thus began the ladies' recep- 
tions, which have since developed into the 
Court of the Daughters of Isis. 

On January 14, 1885, the session was held at 
Lyric Hall. To the sufferers by fire at Car- 
thage $50 was donated. On January 19th, 
Mecca engaged the whole of Tony Pastor's 
Theatre, and every seat was occupied by a 
Noble or his lady. It was a surprise to " Tony." 
This began a long series of theatre parties to 
the various historic Nobles of Mecca, and it 
was thoroughly enjoyed. On this occasion 
"Tony" was presented with a fine Shrine 
jewel and Fez. On January 29, a special ses- 
sion of Mecca was held at the rooms of Pyra- 
mid Temple, Bridgeport, when one hundred 
and one Nobles of Mecca were present, and 



62 HISTOEY OF THE SHEINE 

were elegantly entertained. Fifty-one neo- 
phytes were created, seven being for Mecca. 
On March 23, nearly one hundred Nobles 
attended the funeral of Inspector T. W. 
Thome, one of the members. On April 30, 
Mecca entered the newly furnished rooms of 
Masonic Hall, and held a jubliee. The daugh- 
ters of Nobles Twing and Reeves had been 
presented with jewels on the occasion of their 
marriage, and one jewel to Mrs. Shuster, of 
Philadelphia, for her courtesies on Mecca's 
visit there. Eloquent replies were received 
from the ladies. The first action was a contri- 
bution of $50, in aid of the Bartholdi statue 
fund, which was editorially acknowledged by 
the world. On June 15th, a very fine testi- 
monial was tendered by ten theatrical Nobles 
of Mecca, in aid of the Emergent Reserve 
Fund, consisting of a theatrical entertainment 
at the Academy of Music, which was rilled by 
the Nobles and their ladies, and realized 
nearly $350. 

At the session of January 30, 1886, special 
services were held in commemoration of 
Mahmoud el Falaki, Shareef of Cairo Temple, 
Egypt. On March 31, the Nobles presented 
Ill/.Fleming with a copy of Catafago's "Ara- 
bic Lexicon," in commemoration of the fifteenth 
year of the Shrine. April 13, another grand 
Shrine party at "Tony" Pastor's Theatre. 

A delegation of Nobles of Mecca Temple es- 
corted the Imperial Officers to Cleveland, 



HISTOEY OF THE SHEINE 63 

where the triennial session of the imperial 
body was held, on June 14, 1886. Noble Flem- 
ing gave place to Noble Sam Briggs as Imperial 
Potentate, Ill/.Noble Fleming served as Im- 
perial Potentate from 1876 to 1886, inclusive. 

On September 22, one hundred and forty -five 
Nobles of Mecca visited Moolah Temple, of St. 
Louis, aided in the ceremonies, and were 
cordially welcomed. On October 29, Noble W. 
D. Garrison announced that he had succeeded 
in obtaining a beautiful specimen of Black 
Stone from the precincts of the city of Mecca. 

On February 25, 1887, Noble W. D. Garrison 
presented the Black Stone procured from 
Mecca, with authenic letters and a full des- 
scription. It now adorns the alter. A Shrine 
party surprised W. J. Florence, at Grand 
Opera House, Brooklyn, March 17. On March 
31, a stand of arms was presented to the temple 
by Noble John Worthington, Consul at Malta. 
A large number of Mecca Nobles escorted the 
imperial officers to Indianapolis, where the 
annual session was held, on June 20, followed 
by a splendid banquet. 

February 29, 1888; a very fine watch was 
presented to Noble Fleming, as a testimonial 
from Mecca to its first presiding officer for 
seventeen years. On May 31, Noble W. E. 
Sayers was presented by the Nobles with a 
very fine cornet, in appreciation of his services 
during many meetings as cornetist. On June 
25, a great pilgrimage of Mecca Nobles was 



64 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

made to Toronto, Canada, to attend the annual 
session of imperial body. On August 20, the 
Shrine sustained a great loss in the death of 
Noble J. M. Levey, who was Imperial Treasurer 
and Treasurer of Mecca, and also of the Con- 
sistory of New York City. All his accounts 
were found correct. Noble G. W. Millar was 
appointed treasurer, and was also appointed 
Imperial Treasurer. On October 22, Noble J. 
W. Simons, one of the original thirteen, entered 
the Unseen Temple. 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 65 

COURT OF ISIS 

On October 30, 1888, the officers of Mecca 
Temple established the Court of Isis for North 
America, as an independent organization, to 
bring into more intimate social relations the 
ladies of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. 
Other courts can only be established by char- 
ter from Mecca Court, and are under the sole 
guidance and protection of the officers of the 
Shrine Temple under which it is formed. It 
has a regular initiation, laws and jewels. 
Mecca Court meets nearly every month, and 
includes an entertainment of great variety and 
interest. 

On June 17, 1889, the Imperial Body held its 
triennial session at Chicago, Imperial Recorder 
Paterson retiring after continuous service 
from 1876 to 1889, thirteen years. 

On January 29, 1890, Noble O. S. Long pre- 
sented to the Temple two large photographs 
of the city of Mecca and the interior of the 
Holy Kaaba, sent by his brother, Rev. Dr. 
Long, and were enlarged from photographs 
taken with a detective camera at the risk of 
the owner's life. They are unique. 

A grand pilgrimage was made by a large 
number of Mecca Nobles, July 21 to August 
29, from New York to San Francisco, when 
they were entertained and cordially welcomed 
by thirteen Temples. At a later date the 
Recorder engrossed the letters of thanks to 



66 HISTORY OF THE SHEINE 

each of the thirteen Temples, expressing the 
great gratification of Mecca Temple for the 
handsome treatment of its Nobles and ladies. 

111. Noble W. J. Florence entered the Unseen 
Temple on November 19, 1891. At the session 
of November 30, Noble W. M. Fleming gave an 
eloquent and loving tribute to the memory of 
the " Father of the Mystic Shrine in America." 
On December 29th, the annual election was 
held, Recorder Paterson retiring after a con- 
tinuous service of twenty years. 

During 1892, albums were set apart for every 
Temple, and all Nobles were requested to send 
their photographs for preservation. A special 
diploma was prepared for presentation to every 
pilgrim who visits Mecca, conferring on him 
the honorary title of "Haji." Shrine parties, 
pilgrimages, and ladies' nights were held as 
usual. A button hole badge, with emblem 
of Crescent, Scimeter and "Mecca," was 
adopted. A proposition to have a grand car- 
nival and entertainment peculiar to the Shrine 
was agreed to with great enthusiasm. The 
work was begun to make the necessary arrange- 
ments, and the Madison Square Garden was 
engaged for January 26, 1893. 

Since 1880 the Temple met nearly every 
month, and large numbers of candidates were 
received at every session, the ceremonies being 
given in full form, with music and all the 
accessories required by the magnificent ritual. 
The attendance of the Nobles often exceeded 



HISTOEY OF THE SHEIXE 67 

five hundred. Every session terminated with 
the traditional banquet, which was always 
superb. Large amounts were at various times 
donated to the sick and distressed, as well as 
in aid of many worthy causes. An esprit de 
corps has been established by this Order 
which dominates all other orders, and the 
social side touching the public has been firmly 
cemented. It is the Supreme Confraternity of 
Fraternities. 

Looking back to the first meeting in 1871, 
we behold this wondrous growth of a new 
order, which the eigthy-flve Temples and nearly 
seventy-seven thousand Nobles in this jurisdic- 
tion incontrovertibly attest. The child reached 
its majority of twenty-one years, and it is now 
a giant. The fitting climax was reached in 
the carnival of 1893. 






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HISTORY OF THE SHEINE 73 



CITIES WITH TEMPLES, JAN. i, 1903. 

Name of City. Name of Temple. 

Albany, New York Cyprus Temple 

Albuquerque, New Mexico Ballut Abyad Temple 

Austin, Tex Ben Hur Temple 

Atlanta, Georgia Yaarab Temple 

Baltimore, Maryland Boumi Temple 

Binghamton, New York Kalurah Temple 

Birmingham, Alabama Zamora Temple 

Boise City, Idaho El Korah Temple 

Boston, Massachusetts Aleppo Temple 

Brooklyn, New York Kismet Temple 

Buffalo, New York Ismailia Temple 

Bridgeport, Connecticut Pyramid Temple 

Charlotte, North Carolina Oasis Temple 

Charleston, West Virgina Beni Kedem Temple 

Chattanooga, Tennessee Alhambra Temple 

Chicago, Illinois Medinah Temple 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa El Kahir Temple 

Cincinnati, Ohio Syrian Temple 

Cleveland, Ohio Al Koran Temple 

Columbus, Ohio Aladdin Temple 

Dayton, Ohio Antioch Temple 

Denver, Colorado El Jebel Temple 

Dallas, Texas Hella Temple 

Detroit, Michigan Moslem Temple 

Davenport, Iowa Kaaba Temple 

Deadwood, South Dakota Naja Temple 

Des Moines, Iowa Za-Ga-Zig Temple 

Erie, Pennsylvania Zem Zem Temple 

Fargo, North Dakota El Zagal Temple 

Grand Rapids, Michigan Saladin Temple 

Galveston, Texas El Mina Temple 

Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands Aloha Temple 

Helena, Montana Algeria Temple 

Hartford, Connecticut Sphinx Temple 

Indianapolis, Indiana Murat Temple 

Jacksonville, Florida Morocco Temple 

Kansas City, Missouri Ararat Temple 

Leavenworth, Kansas Abdallah Temple 

Los Angeles, California : Al Malaikah Temple 

Lewiston, Maine Kora Temple 

Lincoln, Nebraska Sesostris Temple 

Louisville, Kentucky Kosair Temple 

Meridian, Mississippi Hamasa Temple 



74 HISTORY OF THE SHEINE 

Name of City Name of Temple 

Memphis, Tennessee Al Chymia Temple 

Minneapolis, Minnesota Zuhrah Temple 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tripoli Temple 

Marquette, Michigan Ahmed Temple 

Montpelier, Vermont Mount Sinai Temple 

Montreal, Canada Karnak Temple 

New York, New York Mecca Temple 

New Orleans, Louisiana Jerusalem Temple 

Omaha, Nebraska Tangier Temple 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Territory India Temple 

Portland, Oregon Al Kader Temple 

Phoenix, Arizona El Zaribah Temple 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Lu Lu Temple 

Peoria, Illinois Mohammed Temple 

Providence, Rhode Island Palestine Temple 

Pine Bluff, Arkansas Sahara Temple 

Pittsburg, Pennsylvania . . Syria Temple 

Reading, Pennsylvania Raj ah Temple 

Rawlins, Wyoming Korein Temple 

Rochester, New York Damascus Temple 

Richmond, Virgina Acca Temple 

Rockford, Illinois Tebala Temple 

St. Paul, Minnesota Osman Temple 

St . Louis, Missouri Moolah Temple 

San Francisco, California Islam Temple 

St. Joseph, Missouri Moila Temple 

Salina, Kansas Isis Temple 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota El Riad Temple 

Spokane, Washington El Katif Temple 

Salt Lake City, Utah El Kalah Temple 

Savannah, Georgia Alee Temple 

Springfield, Massachussets Melha Temple 

Tacoma, Washington Afi.fi Temple 

Toledo, Ohio Zenobia Temple 

Toronto, Canada Rameses Temple 

Troy, New York Oriental Temple 

Utica, New York Ziyara Temple 

Victoria, B. C Gizeh Temple 

Washington, District of Columbia Almas Temple 

Watertown, New York Media Temple 

Wheeling, West Virginia Osiris Temple 

Wilkes Barre, Pennyslvania Irem Temple 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 75 



STATES WITH TEMPLES, JAN. i, 1903. 

State. Temple. 

Alabama .. Zamora Temple 

Arkansas Sahara Temple 

Arizona El Zaribah Temple 

California Al Malaikah and Islam Temples 

Colorado El Jebel Temple 

Connecticut Pyramid and Sphinx Temples 

District of Columbia Almas Temple 

Florida Morocco Temple 

Georgia Alee and Yaarab Temples 

Idaho El Korah Temple 

Illinois Medinah, Mohammed and Tebala Temples 

Indiana Murat Temple 

Iowa El Kahir, Kaaba and Za-Ga-Zig Temples 

Kansas Abdallah and Isis Temples 

Kentucky Kosair Temple 

Louisiana Jerusalem Temple 

Maine Kora Temple 

Maryland Boumi Temple 

Massachusetts Aleppo and Melha Temples 

Michigan Ahmed, Moslem and Saladin Temples 

Minnesota Osman aud Zuhrah Temples 

Missouri Ararat, Moila and Moolah Temples 

Mississippi Hamasa Temple 

Montana Algeria Temple 

Nebraska Sesostris and Tangier Temples 

New Mexico Ballut Abyad Temple 

( Cyprus, Damascus, Ismailia, Kalurah, 
New York ■< Kismet, Mecca, Media, Oriental and 

( Ziyara Temples 

North Carolina t Oasis Temple 

North Dakota El Zagal Temple 

r*v,,-~ ( Aladdin, Al Koran,' Antioch, Syrian and 

UMo i " Zenobia Temples 

Oklahoma India Temple 

Oregon Al Kader Temple 

Pennsylvania { *«-. ** Ln ^S&nfKm?&1 

Rhode Island Palestine Temple 

South Dakota El Eiad and Naja Temples 

Tennessee Al Chymia and Alhambra Temples 

Texas Ben Hur, Hella and El Mina Temples 

Utah El Kalah Temple 

Vermont Mount Sinai Temple 

Virginia Acca Temple 



76 HISTORY OF THE SHEINE 

State Temple 

Washington Ann and El Katif Temples 

West Virgina Beni Kedem and Osiris Temples 

Wisconsin Tripoli Temple 

Wyoming Korein Temple 

Canada Karnak, Rameses and Gizeh Temples 

Hawaiian Islands Aloha Temple 

Number of Chartered Temples 84 

Number of Temples under Dispensation — 1 
Number of Nobles, Jan. 1, 1903 74,276 



HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 77 

DATES AND PLACES OF HOLDING 

THE ANNUAL SESSIONS OF THE 

IMPERIAL COUNCIL SINCE 

ORGANIZATION. 

Date. Place of Meeting. City and State. 

1st —June 6, 1876, Masonic Hall New York, N. Y. 

2d -Feb. 6, 1877, Masonic Hall Albany, N. Y. 

3d —Feb. 6, 1878, Masonic Temple.... New York, N. Y. 

4th— Feb. 5, 1879, Masonic Temple Albany, N. Y. 

5th— Feb. 4, 1880, Masonic Temple Albany, N. Y. 

6th-June 2, 1880, Temple Hall New York, N. Y. 

7th— June 9, 1881, Temple Hall New York, N. Y. 

8th— June 7, 1882, Masonic Temple.... New York, N. Y. 

9th— June 6, 1883, Masonic Temple.... New York, N. Y. 
10th— June 4, 1884, Masonic Temple.... New York, N. Y. 
11th— June 4, 1885, Masonic Temple.... New York, N. Y. 

12th— June 14, 1886, Al Koran Temple Cleveland, O. 

13th— June 20, 1887, Murat Temple .. .Indianapolis, Ind. 

14th— June 25, 1888, Rameses Temple Toronto, Can. 

15th— June 17, 1889, Medinah Temple Chicago, 111. 

16th— June 23, 1890, Syria Temple Pittsburg, Pa. 

17th— June 9, 1891, Masonic Hall ..Niagara Falls, N. Y. 

18th— Aug. 15, 1892, Masonic Hall Omaha, Neb. 

19th— June 13, 1893, Scottish Rite Cathedral, Cincinnati, 

Ohio. 

20th— July 24, 1894, Masonic Temple Denver, Col. 

21st— Sept. 2, 1895, Rockland House, 

Nantasket Beach, Mass. 

22d —June 23, 1896, Masonic Temple Cleveland, O. 

23d —June 8, 1897, Masonic Temple Detroit, Mich. 

24th— June 14, 1898, Opera House Dallas, Tex. 

25th— June 14, 1899, German-American Hall Buffalo, 

New York. 
26th— May 22, 1900, Columbia Theatre,Washington, D.C. 
27th— June 11, 1901, Standard Theatre. .Kansas City, Mo. 
28th— June 10, 1902, Golden Gate Hall. . . . San Francisco, 

California. 
29th— July 8, 1903 Saratoga Springs, N. Y. 



*L»f£ 



78 HISTOEY OF THE SHEINE 

RANK OF TEMPLES ACCORDING TO 
DATE OF CHARTERS. 

Temple Location Date of Charter. 

1 Mecca New York, N. Y..__ Sept. 26.1872 

2 Damascus Eochester, N. Y June 7,1876 

3 Mt. Sinai Montpelier, Vt Oct. 31, 1876 

4 Al Koran Cleveland, O Nov. 16, 1876 

5 Cyprus Albany, N. Y Feb. 2,1877 

6 Oriental Troy, N. Y Feb. 7,1877 

7 Syrian Cincinnati, O Feb. 8,1877 

8 Pyramid Bridgeport, Conn April 18, 1877 

9 Syria Pittsburg, Pa May 27, 1877 

10 Ziyara Utica, N. Y Oct. 30, 1877 

11 Kaaba Davenport, la July 1,1878 

12 Moslem Detroit, Mich April 27, 1880 

13 Aleppo Boston, Mass June 23, 1882 

14 Medinah Chicago, 111 Oct. 30, 1882 

15 Islam San Francisco, Cal .... March 6, 1883 

16 Lu Lu Philadelphia, Pa Dec. 31, 1883 

17 Murat Indianapolis, Ind March 13, 1884 

18 Boumi Baltimore, Md April 1, 1884 

19 Kosair Louisville, Ky Dec. 5.1884 

20 Tripoli Milwauk ee, Wis March 9, 1885 

21 Jerusalem New Orleans, La March 30, 1885 

22 Osman St. Paul, Minn July 13, 1885 

23 Zuhrah Minneapolis, Minn July 22, 1885 

24 Almas Washington, D. C Jan. 17, 1886 

25 Palestine Providence, E. I Feb. 6,1886 

26 ElKahir Cedar Eapids, la Feb. 9,1886 

27 Saladin Grand Eapids, Mich ... . April 22, 1886 

28 Moolah St. Louis, Mo April 26, 1886 

29 Acca Eichmond, Ya June 9, 1886 

30 Osiris Wheeling, W. Ya July 22, 1886 

31 Abdallah Leavenworth, Kan .... March 28, 1887 

32 Isis Salina, Kan March 29, 1887 

33 Eameses Toronto, Can April 21, 1887 

34 Hella Dallas, Tex May 31, 1887 

35 Ballut Abyad. Albuquerque, N. M June 11, 1887 

36 Sesostris Lincoln, Neb June 22, 1887 

37 Kismet Brooklyn, N. Y July 2,1887 

38 Ismailia Buffalo, N. Y Nov. 5,1887 

39 ElJebel Denver, Col Dec. 11. 1887 

40 Moila St. Joseph, Mo Dec. 11, 1887 

41 Ararat Kansas City, Mo Dec. 11, 1887 



HISTORY OF THE SHEINE 79 

Temple Location Date of Charter. 

42 Al Kader Portland, Ore Jan. 3, 1888 

43 Al Malaikah . . Los Angeles, Cal Feb. 28, 1888 

44 Algeria Helena, Mont March. 23, 1888 

45 Morocco Jacksonville, Fla March 28, 1888 

46 ElEiad Sioux Falls, S. D May 25, 1888 

47 Afifi. Tacoma, Wash Aug. 1,1888 

48 Sahara Pine Bluff, Ark April 16, 1889 

49 Tangier Omaha, Neb April 24, 1889 

50 Alhambra Chattanooga, Tenn Sept. 17, 1889 

51 Yaarab Atlanta, Ga Dec. 8,1889 

52 ElZagal Fargo, N. D Dec. 14, 1889 

53 ElKalah Salt Lake, Utah June 8,1890 

54 El Katif Spokane, Wash June 10, 1890 

55 ZemZem Erie, Pa Nov. 10, 1890 

56 Zamora Birmingham, Ala Nov. 10, 1890 

57 Media Watertown, N. Y March 19, 1891 

58 Al Chymia .... Memphis, Tenn May 10, 1891 

59 Ben Hur Austin, Texas June 2,1891 

60 Kora Lewiston, Me Dec. 6,1891 

61 Hamasa Meridian, Miss May 22, 1892 

62 Rajah Reading, Pa Aug. 20, 1892 

63 Naja Deadwood, S. D Sept. 19, 1892 

64 India Oklahoma City, O. T May 3,1893 

65 Mohammed . . . Peoria, 111 June 12, 1893 

66 Aladdin Columbus, O June 14, 1893 

67 Ahmed Marquette, Mich June 14, 1893 

68 Tebala Rockford, 111 May 10, 1894 

69 Korein Rawlins, Wyo Oct. 8,1894 

70 Oasis Charlotte, N. C Oct. 10, 1894 

71 Irem Wilkes Barre, Pa Oct. 18, 1895 

72 El Zaribah .... Phoenix, Ariz Jan. 20, 1896 

73 Sphinx Hartford, Conn April 13, 1896 

74 Alee Savannah, Ga June 23, 1896 

75 ElKorah Boise, Idaho June 23, 1896 

76 Beni Kedem . . Charleston, W. Va June 26, 1896 

77 Melha Springfield, Mass June 9,1897 

78 Antioch Dayton, O June 9,1898 

79 Zenobia Toledo, O June 14, 1898 

80 Kalurah Binghamton, N. Y June 14, 1898 

81 Karnak Montreal, Can Oct. 9,1899 

82 Za-Ga-Zig Des Moines, la May 23, 1900 

83 Aloha Honolulu, H.I May 23, 1900 

84 El Mina Galveston, Texas June 10, 1902 

85 Gizeh Victoria, B. C (U. D.) 1902 



80 HISTORY OF THE SHRINE 

NUMERICAL RANK OF TEMPLES 
JANUARY i, 1903 

Rank. Name of Temple. Members. 

1 Mecca 5011 

2 Aleppo 3633 

3 LuLu 3439 

4 Medinah 3286 

5 Syria 2426 

6 Moslem 2060 

7 Syrian 1611 

8 Ismalia 1564 

9 Islam 1526 

10 Murat 1469 

11 El Kahir 1458 

12 Ararat 1380 

13 Damascus 1262 

14 Kaaba 1208 

15 Kismet 1156 

16 Al Koran 1150 

17 Almas 1132 

18 Oriental 1088 

19 Pyramid 1079 

20 Mount Sinai 1051 

21 Saladin 1044 

22 Zuhrah 1030 

23 Aladdin 1025 

24 ElJebel 984 

25 Za-Ga-Zig 957 

26— Irem 955 

27 ElZagal 954 

28 Kora 929 

29 Moolah 924 

30 Rajah 919 

31 Palestine 893 

32 AlMalaikah 883 

33 Osiris 863 

34 Tangier 855 

35 Tripoli 828 

36 Kalurah 802 

37 Abdallah 796 

38 Isis 790 

39 Sphinx 788 

40 Osman 761 

41 Mohammed 729 

42 Kosair 717 



HISTORY OF THE SHEINE 81 

Rank. Name of Temple. Members. 

43 Acca 715 

44 ZemZem 700 

45 Boumi 683 

46 Hella 654 

47 Cyprus 653 

48 Media 641 

49 Hamasa 606 

50 Ziyara 592 

51 Sesostris 585 

52 El Riad 584 

53 Moila 563 

54 Oasis 553 

55 AlKader 538 

56 Eameses 494 

57 Antioch 480 

58 Yaarab 475 

59 Ahmed 471 

60 Ann 456 

61 India 441 

62 Beni Kedem 439 

63 Algeria 435 

64 ElKatif 413 

65 Melha 403 

66 Sahara 343 

67 Zamora 341 

68 Alhambra 335 

69 Tebala 333 

70 BenHur 301 

71 Jerusalem 277 

72 Zenobia 250 

73 Morocco , 221 

74 ElMina 218 

75 Ballut Abyad 217 

76 Alee 210 

77 Korien, 206 

78 ElKalah 202 

79 ElZaribah 182 

80 Karnak 180 

81 Al Chymia 156 

82 Naja 135 

83 Aloha 78 

84 ElKorah 72 

85 Gizeh,U.D 32 



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